New school for performing artists

News bulletin: 27 July 2009

Victoria’s best young dancers and musicians now have a new space to perfect their craft. 

The Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS) caters for 200 select students in its dance and music program, as well as for students from the Australian Ballet School, Gymnastics Victoria, and Diving Victoria, in Years 7-12.

The uniquely designed buildings in Southbank were officially opened by Education Minister Bronwyn Pike on Wednesday 22 July.

“This school breaks the mould of what a traditional school should look like and what a school should be, and there is no doubt students will flourish and achieve their dreams in a space where art, design and academia co-exist in a celebration of modern learning,” said Ms Pike.

The school has two large performance spaces with tiered seating, three dance studios, four music ensemble rooms, a fitness centre, physiotherapy room and a professional recording studio.

The design, by Williams Boag architects, was inspired by visits to specialist schools in New York, Boston, London and Paris, and produced in consultation with the Victorian Government and the Australian Ballet.

VCASS principal Colin Simpson said the new school is an unbelievable opportunity to not only provide an outstanding academic education and world-class training in dance and music, but to promote the boundless creativity which forms the basis of performance art.

“The energy in this school is going to be amazing and we will now assume our rightful place as one of the leading performing arts schools in the world,” Mr Simpson said.

For more information, see: VCASS